Combination proportioning, diverter, and shut-off valve



April 12, 1966 F. v. ENTERANTE 3,245,430

COMBINATION PROPORTIONING, DIVERTER, AND SHUT-OFF VALVE Original FiledAug. 30, 1960 2 Sheets$heet 1 i4 36 flcazonarze April 1966 F. v.ENTERANTE 3,245,430

COMBINATION PROPORTIONING, DIVERTER, AND SHUT-OFF VALVE Original FiledAug. 30, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. fiswz Kf/vrEe/vA/rE UnitedStates Patent C) This invention relates generally to valves andparticularly to an improved combination proportioning, diverter, andshut-oil valve.

The present application is a continuation of my copending applicationSerial No. 52,867 filed August 30, 1960, now abandoned, and entitledCombination Proportioning, Diverter, and Shut-ofi Valve.

An illustrative use of the present valve is in a combination shower-tubinstallation. In this use, the valve may be adjusted to direct water toeither the tub or shower as well as to control the temperature andvolume of the water flowing to the tub or shower, as the case may be.The valve may also be set in a closed position in which water flow toboth the tub and shower is cut ofi. Other uses of the valve arepossible, of course.

With this preliminary discussion in mind, a general object of theinvention may be stated as being the pro- 'vision of a new and improvedcombination proportioning, diverter, and shut-off valve.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a combinationvalve of the character described which is characterized by its relativesimplicity, few number of parts, ease of operation, compactconstruction, simplicity of installation, and relatively low cost ofmanufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination valve of thecharacter described in which proportioning, volume control, and shut-oilare accomplished by manipulation of one member of the valve and diverteraction is accomplished by manipulation of a second member of the valve.

An important object of the invention is to provide a unique valveconstruction in which the wearable parts may be easily removed forrepair or replacement.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will becomereadily apparent as the description proceeds.

A presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be describedin detail by reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present combination valve;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the valve showing the latter inits closed position;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the valve in its openposition;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial section similar to FIG. 5 illustrating theproportioning action of the valve; and

FIG. 7 is a section taken along line 77 of FIG. 4.

The combination valve 10 illustrated in these drawings comprises agenerally cylindrical body 12 having an axial bore 14 which is open atits right-hand end, as the valve is viewed in FIGS. 2 and 4. Fitted inthis bore is a removable liner 16 defining a second bore 18 in the valvebody. Liner 16 is held in position by a set screw 20 and is sealed tothe Valve body by a seal ring 21.

Slidably and rotatably received in and extending through the open end ofbore 18 is a hollow, cylindrical proportioning and shut-oil barrel 22.Seal rings 23 are placed, as shown, to slidably seal the barrel to theliner 3,245,430 Patented Apr. 12, 1966 ice 16. Barrel 22 has an openouter end and an end wall 26 at its inner end.

Threaded in the open end of the barrel is a bearing 28. A seal ring 30is placed, as shown, to'seal the bearing to the barrel. The inner end ofbearing 28 terminates short of end wall 26 so as to define a mixingchamber 32 in the inner end of the barrel.

Formed on the valve body 12 are two coaxial, diametrically opposedbosses 34 and 36 having coaxial hot and cold water inlet passages 38 and40, respectively. These passages open through liner 16 into the bore 18therein. The side wall of the barrel, about the chamber 32, is providedwith a pair of inlet openings or ports 42 and 44 to the chamber. Theseports are located between a pair of the seal rings 23 on the barrel andare angularly disposed as shown best in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In the axial position of the barrel shown in FIGS. 4-6, the barrel ports42 and 44 are in the same transverse plane of the valve body as the hotand cold water inlets 38 and 40. In the rotary position of the valveshown in FIG. 6, the ports partially register with the inlets 38 and soas to admit hot and cold water to chamber 32 in equal proportions. Whenthe barrel is rotated in the counterclockwise direction from theposition of FIG. 6, the cold water inlet 40 of the valve is graduallyclosed and the hot water inlet 38 is gradually opened to increase thetemperature of the water in the mixing chamber 32. Similarly, when thebarrel is rotated in the clockwise direction from the position of FIG. 6to the position of FIG. 5, the hot water inlet of the valve is graduallyclosed and the cold water inlet is gradually opened to decrease thetemperature of the water in the mixing chamber. Rotation of the barrelin the bore 18, therefore, provides a proportioning action.

Inward movement of the barrel 22 from the position of FIG. 4 toward thepositions of FIGS. 2 and 3 gradually and equally closes both inlets 38and 40 of the valve to reduce the rate of water flow to the mixingchamber while retaining the water temperature substantially constant. Inthe position of the barrel shown in FIG. 3, both the hot and cold waterinlets 38 and 40 are closed so that the flow of water to the mixingchamber 32 is completely cut otf. Axial movement of the barrel 22,therefore, aifords both a volume control action and a shut-oft action.

The barrel is limited both in axial and rotational movement in its bore18, to the limiting positions just described, by the set screw 20 whichengages in a slot 46 in the barrel.

Formed on the valve body are a second pair of coaxial, diametricallyopposed bosses 48 and 50 having a tub outlet passage 52 and a showeroutlet passage 54. The tub outlet passage 52 opens through the liner 16into its internal bore 18 at a point some distance from the end wall 56of the bore 14. The shower outlet passage 54 opens axially through thisend wall, as shown.

The barrel 22 has a side wall opening or port 58 which registers withthe tub outlet 52 in the barrel position of FIG. 4. This port iscircumferentially elongated to maintain communication between the portand tub outlet 52 during rotation adjustment of the barrel to effect theproportioning action described earlier. The barrel 22 also has an axialoutlet opening or port 60 from the mixing chamber 32 in its end wall 26.This port is in constant communication with the shower outlet 54.

Axially movable within the mixing chamber 32 of the barrel is a divertervalve 62. Diverter 62 has a stem 64 which extends slidably and rotatablythrough the bearing 28 in the barrel and terminates beyond the end ofthe bearing and barrel, as shown. Interengaging threads 66 on the valvestem and bearing serve to axially move the diverter when the stem isrotated.

Fixed to the inner end of the diverter 62 is a washer 68 a which engagesan annular valve seat 70 about the barrel outelt port 68 in the positionof the diverter shown in FIG. 2 and in solid lines in FIG. 4. This sealsthe barrel outlet port and cuts off water flow from the mixing chamber32 to the shower outlet 54 of the valve. The diverter has anintermediate valve shoulder 72 which seats against a valve seat 74,formed by the inner end of the valve stem bearing 23, when the diverteroccupies its phantom line position of FIG. 4. In this position of thediverter valve, water flow from the mixing chamber 32 to the tub outlet52 of the valve is cut ott. With the barrel in the open position of FIG.4, then, a diverter action, to direct water from the mixing chamber toeither the tub outlet 52 or shower outlet 54 of the valve is achieved byrotating the stem 64 to axially move the diverter to either of its twopositions just mentioned.

The barrel 22 is rotated as well as shifted axially, to proportion andcontrol the rate of water flow to the mixing chamber 32, by means of ahandle 76 fixed to the outer end of the barrel. Similarly, the divertervalve stem 64 is rotated, to axially shift the diverter valve for adiverter action, by means of a handle 78 fixed to the outer end of thestem. A plate 80, secured by screws 82 to lugs 84 on the valve body, islocated behind the valve handles and bears the legends shown in FIG. 1defining the various valve handle positions.

Operation of the combination valve is believed to be obvious from thepreceding description. Thus, assuming the valve barrel 12 to be in itsofF position of FIG. 2, the handle 78 of the diverter 62 is firstmanipulated to shift the latter to either the tub position or the showerposition as desired. The valve is then turned on by grasping handle 76and pulling it to shift the barrel 22 to its on position of FIG. 4. Inthis position, of course, the water inlet openings 42 and 44 in thebarrel are aligned with the hot and cold water inlets 38 and 40 on thevalve body to admit hot and cold water to the mixing chamber 32. Also,the barrel tub outlet port 58 registers with the tub outlet 52 in thevalve body so that water flows from the mixing chamber to either the tuboutlet 52 or shower outlet 54 of the valve depending on the setting ofthe diverter 62. The barrel can now be rotated to proportion the hot andcold water to obtain the desired mixed water temperature. The valve isshut off, of course, by simply grasping the valve handle 76 and pushingthe barrel 22 to its oil position of FIG. 2.

A highly important feature of the invention resides in the fact that theliner 16, barrel 22, and diverter 62 may be quickly and easily removedfor repair or replacement by releasing the set screw 20. Thus, thepresent valve is uniquely designed for quick and easy reconditioningwhen necessary.

Clearly, therefore, the valve herein illustrated and described is fullycapable of attaining the objects and advantages preliminarily set forth.

Numerous modifications in the design and arrangement of parts of theinvention are, of course, possible Within the spirit and scope of thefollowing claims.

I claims:

1. A valve comprising a body having a bore, a barrel slidable in saidbore and having an internal chamber, said body having a fluid inlet andsaid barrel having a first port which registers with said inlet in oneaxial position of the barrel to admit fluid to said chamber and which isdisplaced from said inlet in another axial position of the barrel to cutofi fluid flow to said chamber, said body having two fluid outlets,second ports in said barrel opening to said chamber and communicatingwith said outlets, respectively, when said barrel is in said oneposition, diverter valve means in said barrel for selectively closingsaid second ports, a handle on said barrel, and a handle on saiddiverter valve means.

2. A value comprising a body having a bore, a barrel slidable in saidbore having an internal chamber, said body having a fluid inlet and saidbarrel having a first port which registers with said inlet in one axialposition of the barrel to admit fluid to the chamber and which isdisplaced from the inlet in another axial position of the barrel to cutoff flow of fluid to the chamber, said body having a pair of outlets andsaid barrel having a pair of second ports opening to said chamber andcommunicating with said outlets, respectively, in said one position ofthe barrel, internal valve seats in said barrel about said second ports,respectively, a diverter valve within the barrel movable between a firstposition of seating engage ment with one valve seat and a secondposition of seating engagement with the other valve seat for selectivelycommunicating said chamber to either outlet, a handle on said divertervalve exteriorly of the valve body for operating the diverter valve, anda handle on said barrel exteriorly of the valve body for operating thebarrel.

3. The subject matter of claim 2 wherein said valve seats are coaxiallydisposed in said barrel and said diverter valve is movably axially inthe barrel into seating engagement with said valve seats.

4. A valve comprising a body having a bore, a barrel removably fitted insaid bore, whereby said barrel is removable from said body for repairand replacement, means releasably securing said barrel in said bore,said barrel having an internal chamber, said body having an inletcommunicating with said chamber through a first port and two outletscommunicating with said chamber through second ports, respectively, insaid barrel, a first internal valve seat in said barrel about one ofsaid second ports, a second internal valve seat in said barrel about theother second port, a diverter valve in said barrel selectively movableinto seating engagement with said valve seats to close either secondport, and a handle on said diverter valve exteriorly of said body foroperating said diverter valve.

5. A valve comprising a body having a bore opening at one end to theoutside of the body, a barrel slidable in and extending at one endthrough the open end of said bore, said one end of the barrel being openand an end wall extending across the other end of said barrel, a bearingfixed in the open end of said barrel and terminating short of said endwall to define an internal chamber in the barrel, said valve body havingan inlet opening through the side wall of said bore and the wall of saidbarrel having a first port which registers with said inlet in one axialposition of the barrel to admit fluid to the chamber and which isdisplaced from said inlet in another axial position of the barrel to cutoff flow of fluid to said chamber, said valve body having a first outletopening to the other end of said bore and a second outlet openingthrough the side wall of said bore, said barrel having a second port insaid end wall thereof which communicates with said first outlet and athird port in the side wall of the barrel which registers with saidsecond inlet in said one position of the barrel, a diverter valve insaid chamber having a stem extending through said bearing to the outsideof said barrel, interengaging threads on said stem and bearing foraxially moving the diverter valve in said chamber when the stem isrotated, a first internal valve seat in said barrel about said secondport and a second internal valve seat in said barrel about said thirdport with which said diverter valve is selectively engageable byrotation of the valve stem to selectively close said second and thirdports, means for limiting axial movement of the barrel, a handle on saidone end of the barrel for moving the latter, and a handle on the outerend of said valve stem for moving said diverter valve.

6. The subject matter of claim 1 wherein said valve body has :aremovable liner defining said bore in which the barrel moves.

7. A valve comprising a body having a bore, a barrel slidable androtatable in said bore and having an internal mixing chamber, said bodyhaving a first inlet and a second inlet and said barrel having portswhich register with said inlets, respectively, in one axial position andone angular position of the barrel in said bore to admit fluids fromsaid inlets to said chamber in substantially equal proportions, saidbarrel being axially movable from said one axial position tosimultaneously adjust and cut off the flow of fluids from said inlets tosaid chamber and said barrel being rotatable from said one angularposition to proportion flow of fluids from said inlets to said chamber,said body having an outlet communicating with said chamber, .a handle onsaid barrel for rotating and axially moving the same, and valve meansincluding a valve seat in said barrel for controlling flow from saidchamber to said outlet.

8. A valve comprising a body having a bore, a barrel slidable androtatable in said bore and having an internal mixing chamber, said valvebody having a first inlet and a second inlet and said barrel having twoports which register with said inlets, respectively, in one angularposition and one axial position of the barrel to admit fluids from saidinlets to said chamber in substantially equal proportions, said barrelbeing rotatable from said one angular position to proportion the flow offluids from said inlet to said chamber and being axially movable fromsaid one axial position to simultaneously adjust and completely cut oilflow of fluids from said inlets to said chamber, said valve body havingtwo outlets, ports in said barrel opening to said chamber andcommunicating with said outlets, respectively, when the barrel is insaid one axial position, diverter valve means in the barrel forselectively closing said latter ports, and handle means for operatingsaid barrel and diverter valve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 920,914 5/1909Christ 137614.07 X 2,582,370 1/1952 Albrecht 137637.4 XR

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,029,638 5/ 1958 Germany.

ISADOR WEIL, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Examiner.

1. A VALVE COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A BORE, A BARREL SLIDBLE IN SAIDBORE AND HAVING AN INTERNAL CHAMBER, SAID BODY HAVING A FLUID INLET ANDSAID BARREL HAVING A FIRST PORT WHICH REGISTERS WITH SAID INLET IN ONEAXIAL POSITION OF THE BARREL TO ADMIT FLUID TO SAID CHAMBER AND WHICHLIS DISPLACED FROM SAID INLET IN ANOTHER AXIAL POSITION OF THE BARREL TOCUT FLUID FLOW TO SAID CHAMBER, SAID BODY HAVING TWO FLUIDS OUTLETS,SECOND PORTS IN SAID BARREL OPEN-